<p>Hey everyone, I was recently admitted to Fordham Rose Hill as an undecided major. However, since sending in my application in early September, I have decided that I want to study accounting in college. Would it be possible for me to switch into the Gabelli Business School for my first year at Fordham, or would I have to complete a year and then try to transfer in? </p>
<p>I e-mailed admissions yesterday, but they are on vacation until Jan 3.
Any opinions?? Thanks!</p>
<p>It should not be a problem to switch to the business school. You don’t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year so you don’t have to specify accounting at this point. If you are sure this is the route you want to take, it is a good idea to email/call and make the change official before you start Fordham. The main reason to do this is that there will be some differences to your freshman year schedule if you start in the business school (ex. you don’t take a foreign language, you take business math and economics…). Congratulations on your acceptance to Fordham!</p>
<p>I thought the opposite that it would be an issue. The business school is harder to get into and has a limited number of openings. It is not just a major one can switch into as far as I am aware. Considering that the school has it’s own orientation separate from that of the rest of the freshman I think it is completely separate from the other majors at RH. The only student I’ve known to transfer into the program had to apply and be accepted.</p>
<p>Gabelli is “not harder to get into than FCRH”. That is an urban myth. It has fewer slots open, but the stats are very very similar to FCRH. FCRH is a liberal arts college. Many kids at FCRH minor in business/economics etc. Some kids in Gabelli minor in something at FCRH and some are in FCRH honors programs. There is cross matriculation all of the time. But yes, I believe you need permission (and perhaps an application) to get into Gabelli. But NOW is the time to resolve that…it is probably easier now to do it than change majors/schools later on. The big issue later is the difference in core classes and the graduation requirements for majors and you lose time. Not that its “harder to get into.” However, its very important to be sure its what you want. Its a big decision. Accounting is a tough major at any college and the CPA exam is onerous and very difficult…and many kids get a masters in accounting make sure they pass that exam. Its also a career path that is very regulated and accountants tend to be a certain personality type. So don’t go into it without deep investigation and making certain.</p>
<p>Especially since you got in ED, I don’t think it would be a problem to switch schools. Again, the main reason to formally make the switch sooner rather than later is to be certain you will be put in the right set of classes as a freshman. When my S applied a few years ago, were told that one school is no harder than the other to get into and that people are able to switch between Rose Hill and the business school. That was important to my S as he wanted a “saftey valve” in case he didn’t like business classes. That being said, he is a junior, an accounting major and is very happy at Fordham.<br>
And as a practicing CPA myself, this is what I know: (1) accounting is a difficult major, but not unreasonable (2) it is possible to be an accounting major, have a successful career for a corporation or non-profit and never take the CPA exam (3) most undergraduate accounting majors do not get a masters in accounting, it would be redundant. Typically, people who get a MS in accounting are not accounting majors undergrad (4) many people who want to become a CPA will now stay for a fifth year and get a MBA as you now need 150 credits to get licensed as a CPA (if you have enough AP credits etc. that will work too). Again, I wouldn’t worry about picking a major now, just get into the school you think you want, take the intro classes and move on from there.</p>
<p>ghostbuster, I would beg to differ with your opinion that all or most accountants are a certain personality type. Through my vast professional and personal experiences both going to school and working with accountants over the last 30 years, I have found that the “accounting type” is much more of a stereotype than a reality. As with other professions, a good accountant will take his or her work seriously. That being said, I have “accounting friends” who do stand-up comedy on the weekends, have played in the NCAA tournament, have started cable TV stations, are published authors – people who don’t fit a mold and have interests outside of business. Anyway, I have no interest at all in getting into a personal discussion, this is more a comment for the OP. Luckly at Fordham, every business students will have a chance to take intro. courses, attend club meetings, hear speeches etc. in order to get feel for different majors before declaring. As I stated earlier, there is no need and really no benefit to choosing a major before the end of soph. year.</p>
<p>Happy: you can differ as you please. I am very, very familiar with accountants…for decades. Also, I know what most kids today are doing with accounting and most are getting a masters…whether its a masters in accounting or an mba…but they are going on.</p>
<p>Perhaps your experience has been different than mine, and we live in completely different parts of the country. </p>
<p>One of my closest professional friends is a CPA and does forensic work…classified in fact, for a major international firm.</p>
<p>Yes, as I stated (post 5) many students go on for a masters to reach the 150 hours now required to obtain a CPA license. What they study is up to them. </p>
<p>Exerpt from Fordham’s Dual Degree website: “Students may use their MBA studies to diversify their knowledge by pursuing a concentration different from their BS degree (recommended), or they may wish to delve deeper into the field they previously studied.”</p>
<p>IloveNY - Good luck to you. If I can help you further, just PM me.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your feedback. I felt the way that nyc2013 did at first: that Gabelli was harder to get into; therefore, I would not be able to transfer in before my freshman year. And I know that the core curriculum is different for business majors, which is exactly why I want to switch as early as possible!
I will e-mail admissions when they get back from their break and hopefully everything will go smoothly.</p>
<p>happy1: I did not apply ED, I applied EA. Do you think that will make a difference?</p>
<p>Fordham does NOT have an ED application. Happy was incorrect and misspoke. They only have an EA application.</p>
<p>The core curriculum is different between Gabelli and FCRH, but there is much which overlaps as well. Shades of gray, not black and white, if you will. </p>
<p>Go where your heart is but remember that there is more than one way to skin a cat and many kids double major and also minor in cross matriculation programs. Its not an either/or situation. Its true that MOST Gabelli kids stay “in house” and likewise the FCRH kids. But some do venture outside the box and explore new ideas, concepts and agendas. </p>
<p>I am agnostic on the issue, with respect to your choice. To me, its all Fordham. One family. </p>
<p>But it is helpful to inquire now and see what they say. Best of luck to you and welcome to Fordham.</p>
<p>Oops. I should have typed EA not ED. Fordham doesn’t have ED. My bad. But my same point still holds…they liked you enough to take you early action, so hopefully they will not have a problem letting you switch into the business school. All you can do is make the request and see what happens. Good luck.</p>
<p>hey guys, admissions e-mailed me back and said they will put me into the Gabelli Business School :D</p>
<p>Great! Congratulations.</p>
<p>they told me they needed to process the request and they will answer me in writing…</p>
<p>Same, but they said it wouldn’t be a problem so I assume that means I’m basically in.</p>
<p>Yes, they were so nice about it! Where else did you apply?</p>
<p>I applied to Northeastern (my top choice, but I was deferred), Bentley, Loyola Maryland, American, Rutgers, and Bryant.
How about you?</p>
<p>Oh! I live in down the street from Northeastern. It is overrated, so I wouldn’t worry about it if it does not work out! Fordham and the others you listed are all just as great! I applied to a bunch of schools, but I think it is coming down to either Fordham or BC.</p>
<p>Wow, living in the middle of Boston must be fun! BC is a great school, good luck with everything</p>
<p>Thank you. Good luck to you too with Northeastern. Just about all of my friends want to go there so I hear the complaints of being deferred almost everyday.</p>